LAS VEGAS, NV (05.12.23) – HARMAN International Industries, the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, launched its newest lineup of JBL Marine Amplifiers and CLUB Marine Speakers for the Marine market. There are four new models of amplifiers including the JBL MA600, JBL MA1000, JBL MA754 and JBL MA5055. The four new models of CLUB Marine speakers are the JBL MARSPKCB62, JBL MARSPKCB82, JBL MARSUBCB102 and the JBL MARSUBCB122. All feature JBL’s 75 plus years of sound heritage and cutting-edge design at affordable prices for any boat.
The new JBL Marine amplifiers are offered in four configurations, a 4-channel by 75 watt Class H, a 5-channel mixed class AB and class-D, and 2 mono subwoofer amps. The PC boards are conformally coated with balanced RCA inputs for noise free audio. The variable crossovers allow for simple system tuning and easy system building with the new CLUB Marine speaker family. The cosmetics are sure to turn heads with a frosty white gloss paint and a silver trim ring finish for a seamless look.
The new CLUB Marine Speakers are also offered in four different sizes, a 6” and 8” full-range speaker and a 10” and 12” subwoofer. All new models come with two removable grills in gloss white and satin gray. The speakers feature silk dome tweeters for smooth highs, polypropylene cones for snappy bass, improve voicing and imaging in an open-air setting of a boat. The IPX5 ratings and UV testing ensure they can handle spray, salt and fog and look brand new years from now. The Elegant soft spoke design is set off against the LED multi color party lighting.
The CLUB Marine subs are best in class when playing low bass in the cavity of the boat. The subs play down to 20 Hertz thanks to a massive magnet and cast abs basket. With 300 watt RMS 10” and 400-watt RMS 12”, it is easy to build a sub system with the new JBL Marine amplifiers.
“JBL designed this new family of marine amps and speakers to not only look and sound amazing but drop into factory holes to easily upfit any boat or pontoon,” said Jeffery Fay, VP & GM Global Aftermarket, and Special Markets OEM at HARMAN. “We’re excited to offer these new products at affordable pricing to our customers.”
Availability and Pricing: The new JBL Marine Amplifiers family will be available in Q1 of 2023 with options ranging from $349.95 – $499.95. The new JBL CLUB Marine speakers are available now with options ranging from $249.95 – $299.95.
METAIRIE, LA (05.12.23) – Oracle Lighting is proud to announce the launch of its new Integrated Roof Mounted Light Bar System for 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL and 2020-2023 Gladiator (p/n 5917-023). Scheduled to ship in June 2023, the new light bar system has an anticipated MSRP of $995.95.
“If you are in the market for a high-mount LED light bar and want to retain an almost factory look, the new Oracle Lighting Integrated LED Light Bar is for you,” explained Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting director of development. “While other market offerings look obviously aftermarket or like an afterthought, our Patent-Pending design with its molded cowling integrates seamlessly into the factory roof line. This product further adds to the rugged and practical style of your Jeep while eliminating the common whistling issue of other light bars.”
The new Integrated Roof Mounted Light Bar System utilizes 30 individual 8W LED emitters, creating a total of 18,000 raw lumens and a projection distance of nearly 2,000 feet.
“Along with blending in with the factory design, the unique cowl design provides a quieter and more aerodynamic installation compared with traditional LED light bar set-ups,” Hartenstein continued. “The polycarbonate housing is designed to match the styling of the factory hard top but can be installed of soft top Jeeps, as well. It even retains all functionality when you want to go topless.”
The system features selectable amber or white clearance lights, and you can choose to connect these lights to an aux switch, parking lights, DRL, or simply have them disconnected if you prefer not to use the additional clearance light feature.
The system matches the factory black hard top out-of-the-box but can also be painted to color match. Oracle Lighting recommends using a professional painter to properly prep, prime, and color match paint the housing.
“This new light bar system design utilizes reflector-facing LED technology, elevating it above basic and more common bars,” Hartenstein concluded. “This reflector system is designed to provide optimized LED light output from the individual LED emitters and project to a distance of more than 600 meters.”
Louisiana-based Oracle Lighting has been designing innovative lighting products and technologies for the automotive aftermarket since 1999. Oracle’s philosophy is this: in today’s world of fly-by-night vendors, we think it is important to partner with businesses that you can trust to be there for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
STILLWATER, OK (05.11.23) – The perfect marriage of power and performance, KICKER has announced its first-ever PTRTP Powered Down-Firing Loaded Enclosures, available in a 10- and 12-inch model and now shipping. All enclosures come with a built-in, power-matched amplifier and convenient remote volume control. The enclosures are available for purchase at Authorized KICKER Dealers in-store and online. Soon to be introduced to the world on the KICKER UnMASKED! Live show, PTRTP Powered Down-Firing Loaded Enclosures will retail at $449.99 and $499.99. PTRTP Enclosures are also available at www.kicker.com.
Loaded into each enclosure is an active, KICKER CompRT shallow-mount subwoofer, equipped with Forced Air Cooling to enhance the woofer’s efficiency and durability. A bumped top plate allows for full voice-coil clearance and excursion in a shallow-mount woofer, while the large-diameter, progressive-roll spider ensures increased linearity, better overall sound quality and outstanding bass reproduction.
Next to the active woofer is a reFLEX passive radiator, providing a significant bass upgrade without increasing overall depth of the already thin enclosure. The down-firing design allows the enclosure to fit in tight spaces, yet still deliver peak performance. Standing only about six inches high, the PTRTP is built to fit anywhere – from behind the seat of a pickup to the back of a hatchback. The rugged enclosure design has the added benefit of allowing items to be stacked on top of it, if mounted in a trunk or cargo area. The enclosures are carpeted and custom embroidered with the KICKER logo.
Featuring up to 500 watts of power and a best-in-class input sensitivity, PTRTP built-in amplifiers accept input voltages ranging from as little as 125 millivolts to as much as 40 volts, ensuring its compatibility with virtually any factory or aftermarket radio or source without the additional expense of a line-out converter.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (05.11.23) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal last month for strict new federal multipollutant emissions standards for
light- and medium-duty vehicles. The proposal would decisively tilt the U.S. car and truck market toward electric vehicles (EVs) over the next decade. The new standards would initiate for the ’27 model year and gradually increase through the ’32 model year.
If the EPA drafts standards are implemented by 2032 as proposed, the agency anticipates that two-thirds of all new-car sales in the United States would be EVs. This large-scale shift would significantly disrupt automotive industry supply chains and potentially eliminate large numbers of jobs in vehicle manufacturing, parts production and repair shops. Ford alone estimates a 30% labor reduction in its transition to EVs.
Likewise, much of the automotive specialty-equipment market–the parts and modifications you make to your vehicle once it leaves the car lot–is built around the internal combustion engine. The $51 billion aftermarket industry supports more than one million jobs in U.S. automotive manufacturing. The automotive specialty-equipment market has also led the way in alternative fuel innovations such as hydrogen, replacing older engine technologies with newer, cleaner versions, and even conversions of older internal combustion engine-based cars to new electric, hydrogen and other alternative fuels. Yet none of that is considered part of the broader plan to reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants from automobiles.
Small businesses would be the most vulnerable to the disruptions caused by a seismic shift to battery-electric vehicles. According to the most recent Census Bureau tally of the almost 1,200 auto engine and transmission parts suppliers in the United States, more than 60% had 20 or fewer employees. These companies often make specialized components, operate on tight margins and rely on long-term contracts. They employ American workers with technical skills and create the often politically celebrated blue-collar jobs.
Large automakers are losing billions a year in their EV programs, despite the massive financial infusion of taxpayer dollars they are receiving from the government and subsidies to purchase EVs. If they are struggling, how are small businesses expected to survive?
Clean air and the reduction of greenhouse gases are goals everyone can acknowledge. That said, when governments arbitrarily pick technology winners and losers, the marketplace is deprived of choices and the public suffers. Instead of forcing this transition, the EPA should put in place incentives to support a diversified zero-emissions approach that takes advantage of breakthrough technologies across the spectrum.
Hydrogen, for example, is already being used as a power source in buildings, cars, trucks, forklifts, ships and trains. Hydrogen-powered cars have greater range and faster refueling times compared to EVs and reduce the need for limited-supply materials used in EV battery packs. And clean hydrogen generation is already feasible: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory website identifies five different methods to produce hydrogen economically from sustainable resources.
Other renewable fuels–including synthetic eFuels that allow legacy vehicles to operate in a carbon-neutral manner–should also be part of the equation. Where are the government-backed financial incentives for these alternate technologies?
The market is rightly skeptical of new EV technology, and right now, it simply does not have the infrastructure ready to support EVs. Yet by using multipollutant emissions regulations to force-feed EVs to the market, the government is effectively putting all its eggs into one technology basket.
The Biden administration should realize that the market’s hesitation to adopt EV technology in the first place proves that putting the government’s thumb on the scale is not an effective means of persuasion. But instead of adjusting course to let the market forge the transition, the administration is effectively doubling down on a flailing policy.
Meanwhile, a dozen states have recently introduced or passed legislation or resolutions affirming support for the internal combustion engine and for the government to remain technology-neutral in the debate to reduce automotive emissions. In Virginia, for example, it was only the state’s slim Democratic Senate majority that stymied Governor Glenn Youngkin’s campaign platform issue to repeal Virginia’s internal combustion engine ban.
The EPA’s emissions proposal is misguided and counterproductive. Instead of trying to force a clean energy transition, the Biden administration should support the work of innovators and protect the small-business owners and those they employ by letting the market and innovation drive solutions to the environmental challenges we all seek to solve.
RINGWOOD, IL (05.10.23) – Race Sport Lighting released their New AKIT18 18-piece Ambient Vehicle Lighting Kit in Q1 and are now in full non-stop production in Q2. This unique and niche new interior ambient product is the perfect solution for a full lighting show on the interior of any vehicle. The 18pc retail kit comes with a momentary push button extension, multiple flexible acrylic light tubes for the doors and dash, door handle lights, door pocket lights and multiple Bluetooth door controllers for each door to keep in sync and reduce wiring. With Bluetooth controls, this amazing kit can do virtually hundreds of colors and chasing patterns on all 4 doors.
The kit has already been shipped out to hundreds of dealers recently and is in stock in dozens of distributors around the country. The product is attractively retail packaged and tells the story to the consumer for an easy retail sale. Dealers can make great money off not only the sale of the product, but the labor is great profit too! Professional installation is definitely recommended on this product and allow dealers to bill out several hours of labor to be estimated.
“The AKIT18 has been no surprise to have risen to the top of our nationwide seller rankings. It is an amazing ambient light kit that is priced right with good margins and tons of labor potential for thousands of our dealers nationwide. I have heard reports of dealers offering this kit to consumers at $1,000+ installed to get that European ambient light kit look flaunted on high end luxury cars. Now any vehicle can have this look with our AKIT18.” says Steven Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (05.10.23) – Three industry leaders are joining the prestigious SEMA Hall of Fame: Steve Ames of Ames Performance Engineering, John Iannotte of Kunzman & Associates, and Mitch Williams, who recently left StopTech Performance Brake Systems to join Rigid Industries.
Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame honors trailblazers who have significantly enhanced and contributed to the automotive industry. Its members are considered heroes, and each individual has a unique story to tell. The industry is invited to join in honoring the new SEMA Hall of Fame members during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, Calif., on July 21. More details on the inductees will be shared during the Gala.
Steve Ames: Having developed a fascination for cars at a young age, Steve Ames began drag racing after earning an engineering degree from Columbia University. He started in the parts business by traveling along the East Coast buying New Old Stock (NOS) parts. In 1976 he noticed that Pontiac parts were in particularly high demand and began focusing exclusively on such products. As business continued, Ames realized that demand for restoration parts outweighed that of NOS parts and launched Ames Performance Engineering. He expanded with other companies within the restoration industry, providing much-needed products for growing markets, and became an authoritative voice in the classic car industry. Ames is one of the original founders of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), was named ARMO’s Person of the Year in 2007, and is a recipient of the ARMO Lifetime Achievement Award. Ames passed away in December 2020.
John Iannotte: John Iannotte is among the industry’s most known and respected sales reps. As a teenager, he was the first-ever service rep for the Mr. Phone/Mr. Gasket organization. He continued his career playing a key role in the founding and growth of Bob Barker Marketing & Sales and for much of the success at the multi award-winning company Kunzman & Associates. An active member and supporter of the SEMA Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC), Iannotte advocated for and became one of the first certified professional manufacturers reps (CPMR) and pushed for standards throughout the industry. He served numerous terms on the SEMA Board of Directors, where he fought legislative issues involving manufacturing tax relief, pushed for industry data standards, supported philanthropic activities, and promoted ongoing education and training throughout the industry. Iannotte continues to serve as a sales rep for Kunzman & Associates, as well as volunteer his time and expertise to many industry initiatives.
Mitch Williams: Mitch Williams has nearly 40 years of industry experience, including six terms on the SEMA Board of Directors – one as SEMA Chairman of the Board. As such, he introduced lean concepts to SEMA and expanded SEMA’s global influence by founding the SEMA International Task Force to connect SEMA members with international business opportunities. He also served on the Joint Operating Committee, providing oversight to the SEMA Show and its partner show, AAPEX. He was a charter member of the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) and personally lobbied members of Congress on important industry issues. Williams founded the SEMA Lighting Task Force at a time when NHTSA was targeting lighting companies. In addition to nearly 20 years with Hella, Williams held executive positions with Original One Auto Parts, Restoration Parts Unlimited, APR, Dinan Corp., Xstream Trucking, StopTech, and recently joined Rigid Industries as its president.
Ames, Iannotte, and Williams will be formally introduced during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, Calif., on July 21, at which time newly elected and outgoing SEMA Board members will also be honored. All SEMA members and industry professionals are invited to join the celebration by purchasing tickets at www.sema.org/gala.
AUBURN HILLS, MI (05.09.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) today launched “Alpine Park” on Roblox, a mass multiplayer platform with over 200 million active users each month. This virtual experience, designed in collaboration with Trigger XR and Stage3 Agency, expands the Alpine brand presence and reaches a younger audience of audio enthusiasts.
“The Alpine Park on Roblox represents the future of the Alpine brand and a new way to experience Alpine products and services,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America. “Using this immersive gaming and social platform, we’re able to showcase iconic Alpine imagery and products that long-time Alpine fans will recognize, while at the same time, incorporating new and exciting experiences that will engage a younger fan.”
With Alpine’s entrance into this virtual world, the younger generation, who statistically would not experience the brand until an older age, can now experience Alpine in an exciting and approachable format that’s tailored to their interests. Users can play games, purchase in-game gear inspired by the current Alpine product line and interact with Alpine products in an immersive environment designed for music, outdoor, and adventure enthusiasts – in other words, “Alpine fans.”
Bridging the Gap through Gameplay
Roblox was identified as the target platform for this virtual Alpine Park experience for its gaming and interactive feature offerings in addition to its vast user base of Generation Alpha (ages 13+) and Generation Z (ages 16 – 25).
The park includes a gameplay experience where users can collect iconic chiclets and music gems to purchase in-game items from the Alpine store (located in various areas of the park). The in-game items, like an Alpine Subwoofer jetpack and a Green Chiclet Tee Shirt, are modeled after real Alpine products to bridge the gap between virtual and reality.
Outside of the gameplay, Alpine Park features a “playground” area staged with real products from the Alpine lineup scaled to larger-than-life sizes as a unique way for users to interact with and learn about Alpine product offerings. The park also features a “showroom” floor that’s modeled after an Alpine Experience Event, where users can experience virtual models of real Alpine demo vehicles, like “Hellbender,” the 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport with a tee shirt cannon, “Switchback,” the 2019 Jeep Gladiator with a mechanized truck bed with 40 oscillating Bluetooth speakers, and the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado with the Legendary Alpine R-Series sound system. Outside of the demo vehicle placement, Alpine plans to utilize the showroom floor to reveal upcoming products and services to its user base, connecting virtual users to actual Alpine products and initiatives outside of the game.
Future updates to the Alpine Park experience include AI (artificial intelligence) Personas modeled after Alpine Brand Specialists and Jeep Enthusiasts as NPC (non-playable characters). These characters are powered by Inworld AI, a developer platform for AI characters. The integration allows users to chat with the AI characters about Alpine’s technology and fandom, using custom knowledge bases and distinct personalities designed to align with the Alpine brand. This technology would position Alpine as the first commercialized brand to launch this feature on Roblox.
Roblox can be accessed online on a computer or PC, a smartphone via Google Play or the App Store, an Xbox gaming system, or a VR headset. Alpine Park can be found by searching “Alpine Park” on the Roblox platform or at https://www.roblox.com/games/12956278832/Alpine-Park.
SYMRNA, GA (05.09.23) – The PowerBass training at the Next Level Distribution in Smyrna GA, in their new studio, was a hit with many dealers in attendance and the with online webinar. This was the company’s first live-streamed presentation since completing their amazing in-house studio.
“We had an amazing time breaking in our new fully integrated training facility and control room while being able to train our PowerBass customers in person and remotely on the webinar on May 3rd! It was terrific to have Erik Harbour and Jeff Falk in the house to deliver the PowerBass message,” Mark Garijanian, Next Level Director of Marketing, stated.
Erik Harbour addresses the in-house attendees during his portion of the PowerBass presentation.
Jeff Falk covers the company’s SoundBar category during his presentation.
Harbour, PowerBass VP, traveled from the company’s Los Angeles area HQ while Falk, National Sales Manager, traveled from his Florida field office. Both spent time on the stage to deliver the latest across the PowerBass lineup. Area representative Richie Holtzman, Tech Marketing, also attended the PowerBass training presentation. “Next Level is doing a super job in their territories with PowerBass. Their ability to deliver the PowerBass message, utilizing the new studio, will increase their ability to connect with 12volt retailers,” Harbour stated.
The Next Level presentation look from the control station.
Massive monitors are mounted on the rear wall of the studio.
“We want to bring our training not just to a select group of local dealers but all of our 12volt dealer base! If you are a 12volt dealer and want a recording of this PowerBass training let your Next Level sales rep know. More exciting events to come so be on the look out,” Garijanian concluded.
This PowerBass webinar graphic was posted on digital platforms to let Next Level dealers to tune in for the latest from PowerBass.
ST. LOUIS, MO (05.08.23) – Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has just opened its first of three planned locations in the state of Missouri.
Tint World® St. Charles, owned by father and son team Andy and Drew Gladstein, offers drivers throughout the northwestern St. Louis area premium automotive style and performance services and a comprehensive selection of top aftermarket products from the most popular brands.
“We’re excited to have opened our first of three Tint World centers in St. Charles and the surrounding areas to enhance our customers’ automotive experience with the industry’s best selection of products and services provided by a team of trained expert technicians and installers,” Andy Gladstein said. “Our customers recognize that Tint World® is their one-stop provider of ultra-premium window tint, paint protection film, Nano ceramic coatings, audio and mobile electronics, performance upgrades, and safety and security technology. Tint World® is also a leading provider of residential and commercial window films and is looking forward to helping make homes and businesses in the area more comfortable and efficient while saving on their energy, heating, and cooling costs.”
Tint World® St. Charles, located at 2801 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles, Missouri 63303, serves Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Saint Peters, Hazelwood, Saint Ann, Florissant, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Lake St. Louis, and O’Fallon. To book an appointment, request a quote, or find out more about the store and its products and services, call (636) 329-4151 or visit https://www.tintworld.com/locations/mo/st-charles-124/.
“Andy’s dedication and passion are delivering unmatched value and driving successful relationships with Tint World® customers throughout the St. Charles area,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World®. “He’s proven to be an important addition to the Tint World® family by leveraging our proven, innovative franchise system and embracing our vision for franchisee success and overall growth.”
BEND, OR (05.08.23) – Industry Veteran Glenn McCarthy jumps back into the 12-Volt world in the cockpit of his new KIA EV6 GT.
When McCarthy formed CE Global Pro, a PNW Representative firm, he approached windshield time and on the road expense in a new way. “I am thrilled to be doing what I love, which is selling, and am excited to be able to do it in these picturesque states of Washington and Oregon,” McCarthy stated.
McCarthy hits the road in his KIA EV6 GT that is totally set up to be a remote office as he makes 40 minute stops at charging stations on the road in the picturesque PNW.
McCarthy hit the road behind the wheel of a new KIA EV6 GT. “I plan to be on the road a lot seeing dealers. The PNW is an environmentally friendly region of the US. With the move to Electric Vehicles, and the high price of fuel, it was a natural to investigate an EV.”
Continuing, “I made the decision to buy a new KIA EV6 GT as it saves a ton on fuel cost but requires time at charging stations on the road.To make that charging time productive I added gear in the cockpit were I can stay totally connected and productive for that 40 minutes or so of charging time. I even added a printer in the trunk. With the amazing landscape in the PNW each charging stop can offer a wonderfully refreshing view.”
Cicada Audio was the first 12volt company to appoint McCarthy in the PNW region to drive their brand through motorcycle, UTV and other applicable resellers.
“We are very excited to have Glenn representing Cicada Audio in the top west corner of the USA”, Cicada Audio’s Director of Sales Marty Deane, commented. “We are growing and always need top professionals like McCarthy in the field. We look forward to growing with Glenn’s venture,” Deane stated.
Look for much more coming from CE Global Pro in the PNW with Cicada Audio!
